Sam in the Spotlight by Anne-Marie Conway Page A

at least everything was going to come out into the open at last. Well, everything about Eddie anyway. He was a nasty two-timing cheat and the sooner Ellie found out the better. I forgot all about Stevie and the Stingrays and asking Dad about his past. All I could think about was proving to Ellie that I’d been right about Eddie all along.
    When Aunty Mags called for me in the morning I said I had too much homework to walk Riley with her. I spent most of the day rehearsing what I was going to say to Ellie. I went over it so many times it was like learning my lines for a play. Mum thought I was busy doing my homework but I was actually pacing around my room having one imaginary conversation with Ellie after another.
    I couldn’t wait to get to school on Monday. I knew it would be awful telling her, but I just wanted to get it over with. I hung about outside the gates for ages scanning the crowds, ready to say my piece, but there was no sign of her. When the bell rang I traipsed inside, just in time to hear the secretary give our form teacher, Mr. Bayliss, a message that Ellie had flu and was going to be off all week. I couldn’t believe it. How was I supposed to keep a secret as big as this for a whole week? It was bad enough keeping quiet about Crystal’s wedding, but this was even worse.
    I was so tempted to tell Phoebe and Polly just to see what they thought – but I knew I should speak to Ellie first. I did my best to stay out of their way as much as I could just in case I blurted it out by mistake, but it was practically impossible.
    I spent the entire week ducking behind doors and disappearing into classrooms whenever I saw one of them coming. I felt like I was in the middle of some awful spy movie. On Thursday I was in the canteen getting my lunch when Polly called me over to sit with them.
    â€œWhat’s going on, Sam? You haven’t been avoiding us, have you?” she said, budging up to make room for me.
    â€œOf course not,” I fibbed. “I’m just trying to learn my lines before Saturday. I’ve got loads you know.”
    â€œWe’ll test you if you want,” said Phoebe.
    I backed away, pulling my script out of my bag. “It’s okay, thanks. I’m way better at learning stuff by myself. I’ve always been like that.” I tried to say it lightly like it was no big deal but I could see they were hurt. “When’s Ellie coming back, by the way? Do you know?”
    Polly shook her head. “We’re not sure – she’s really ill, you know. Maybe you should call her? Sort things out before you push all your friends away.”
    I walked off with my head in my script so they couldn’t see how upset I was. I wasn’t trying to push anyone away, but I just didn’t see how I was supposed to sit there chatting away about other stuff when I had this big secret to tell about Eddie. It was easier to just keep to myself until Ellie knew the terrible truth.
    I was half-hoping she wouldn’t be back at drama on Saturday but I spotted her the second I walked in. She was standing right in the middle of the hall with Phoebe, Monty B and Adam and they were all laughing about something. I cleared my throat in a really exaggerated way to get her attention but when she turned round and saw it was me she turned straight back to the others and laughed even louder.
    I went over to the stage to take off my jacket. The hall was boiling hot for some reason, as if someone had turned up the heating to its highest setting.
    â€œHi, Sam. How are you getting on with your lines?” said Mandy, coming over.
    I dragged my eyes away from Ellie. “Pretty good, thanks. I know all of Act One already.”
    Mandy grinned. “That’s brilliant, I knew I could rely on you. Listen, you couldn’t do me a quick favour could you? The heating seems to be on very high and it’s far too warm in here. Could you just pop along to Arthur’s